Wow! The chemo-caps that Kathy (aka Mrs. News) is crocheting are beautiful! She has made over 200 caps to donate to cancer patients going through chemo. What a wonderful gift this must be to those receiving treatment, not just the cap itself, but the message of support that comes with it, knowing that a stranger took the time to send love to someone in need. Kathy is living proof that everyone can make a difference.

Denis took me on my errands today so I made him some cookies tonight. One of his favorites are my oatmeal chocolate chip so I made my oatmeal batter with 100% whole grains, then divided it in two so I could make my own favorites, too. To his half (the back row) I added toasted walnuts and chocolate chips. To my half, I added toasted walnuts, diced prunes and figs. They are so delicious! We’ve already had two each so I’d better put them away. These are definitely going in my next cookbook, which I’m trying to work on but there’s never time! Mine have whole grains and extra fiber so technically, I could have one for breakfast, no? How about with a hard-boiled egg and a glass of milk? Never mind, it’s as rhetorical question – my kitchen, my rules. Cookies for breakfast!

Two lunches in one week – I must be one of those “ladies who lunch.” But this time it was seeing an old friend, a woman who worked with me during the entire 12-year run of my show so there was lots of catching up. We met at the Marmalade Cafe in Calabasas and as soon as we sat down, a woman at the next table said, “Excuse me, but can I ask you a question?” Trying to appear humble, I was all prepared to say, “Why yes, I am the talk show host,” but instead, she threw me a curve. “What do you do to have such beautiful skin?” She apologized for interrupting but said my skin was absolutely glowing and then my lunch date said the same thing. This was not the first time I’ve been asked that but it always surprises me because my skin is just my skin -I don’t know – I never really notice it glowing. I told her it’s something I work on regularly, doing scrubs every day, as well as my own facials, and sunblock rain or shine, but I thought it was more my healthy diet: no soft drinks, no alcohol, no fried food, lots of salads, but occasional pizza and that burger at Daily Grill. Today I had actually used a Sisley moisturizer that costs more than our lunch, the shoes I was wearing, and the new front tires on my car. But I switch products all the time and told her my skin looks the same when I use drug store products, too. Well, it was a nice compliment and it motivates me even more to keep taking care of my skin. Click below for My Six Step at Home Facial:

I had my own lunch yesterday with the man who put my talk show on the air. We caught up and I was able to thank him again for giving me the opportunity that changed my life. We went to the Daily Grill which has the best and biggest burgers, and I wanted a burger, but there’s no way to eat one and maintain your dignity, so I chose the decorum of a salad. But I’m going back today to get the burger!

1. The Golden Globes should have been called the Golden Gloves. I was sure somebody would punch Ricky Gervais’s lights out in the green room for being so mean… but so funny…but so mean…but so funny…but… Ricky’s a good actor but don’t expect to see him in the next John Travolta movie.

2. Charlie Sheen seems to be headed down a very wrong path. I wonder if he even remembers half the stuff he’s doing. Do you suppose he shoved his own car down the ravine off Mulholland Drive and just forgot? Maybe he thinks he parked it there and walked up, wondering why his driveway seemed so steep.

3. Martha Stewart needed nine stitches for a split lip. She says her dog hit her in the face. That’s her story and she’s sticking to it.

4. Most famous people who engage in an act of career-damaging stupidity, check into rehab. But they’re usually famous for more than two days. Ted Williams, the homeless guy with the radio voice, couldn’t deal. Shoving him into the spotlight was like taking a priest to a strip club – too much too soon.

5. Regis Philbin is quitting his show? I was shocked… not that he was quitting, but that he’s still alive. 😉

We have a new video! It’s French Toast made with melted dark chocolate but before you judge, let me remind you that dark chocolate has many anti-aging health benefits. It’s full of antioxidants like polyphenols, the same ones found in red wine and green tea; and flavonoids, the ones found in blueberries, which can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. So I have not abandoned my standards of nutrition – this is a healthy recipe using whole wheat bread and no butter at all. We made the video yesterday with Damon working the camera, lights, and audio and when we were done, he sampled the French toast and wound up eating the whole thing. We then made a second version with Denis standing by to taste it. He ate the whole thing. It’s hard to describe how delicious this is but Damon said, “It’s yummy and chocolate-y… it’s like eating dessert.” Denis said, “Make more.”